The swine flu, like any other virus, can only survive and proliferate in a friendly environment. So the first thing you want to do is stop being so nice and friendly to viruses!

To do this, you definitely do not want to be a good host. Viruses love acidic environments, so you want to make your body more alkaline, achieving the right PH balance.

Most of us create an acidic environment by eating too much red meat, processed foods, sugar and refined flour. How can you correct this? By eating tons of fresh vegetables and some fruits.

If your lifestyle makes it difficult for you to eat large quantities of fresh vegetables, add a large glass of fresh vegetable juice (never bottled or canned) to your diet everyday. Or blend them; yes, you can make a vegetable shake. Just put different leafy greens in your blender, add a carrot or apple to improve taste, some water or ice, and blend. You can add some whey protein if you want to make it a power shake.

Also, you can easily start your meal with a big fresh salad, even at a restaurant. Just don’t ruin all the health benefits with a processed chemical dressing, please… dress it with lemon and olive oil. Talking about lemons, that’s another good idea, drink a cup of hot water with fresh lemon juice sweetened with stevia or a little honey if you prefer. Although lemons taste acidic, they transform into an alkaline ash when metabolized and are very cleansing.

You may also want to boost your immune system by taking a combination of goldenseal, echinacea and astragalus. Goldenseal should not be taken for long periods of time, but it is a powerful anti-viral and anti-bacterial herb useful to fight a bug.

Adding garlic to your diet is another good piece of advice, unless your blood pressure is too low. Garlic not only acts as a natural mild antibiotic but also kills yeast, parasites, and lowers blood pressure.

Just make sure your other half eats it too so there are no complaints when kissing.

In conclusion, instead of worrying about the bugs, focus on keeping a clean healthy body by eating natural, unprocessed foods. Don’t be fertile soil for viruses to grow. When it comes to viruses, being hospitable is not a virtue!

::Patri also writes at Create Your Health. Visit her site for more great tips on Natural Health, Holistic Nutrition and Diet::